The Most Powerful Take Off

boeingflying31 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:09 pm

What is the loudest, most powerful take off you have experienced? Mine would have to be the 744, although that might change when I ride on a 772 in a few weeks Smile/happy/getting dizzy

John · Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:20 pm

For it's SIZE, I am certain the 757 has THE MOST powerful takeoff performance of any narrow body aircraft in it's class. I've experienced pretty impressive takeoffs in the 742 and 744 as well. One of these days I'll get to fly in a 777!

United777 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:26 pm

You will be amazed to see how much power the 777 has during take-off! Which airline will you be flying with it?

flyabr · Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:34 pm

of the planes i've been on...definitely a pratt powered 757! don't know about RB211 equipped 757s...

65captin · Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:39 pm

Mine was on a triple seven BA San Diego-London. Those engines were screaming, I believe it was the GE 90. But man u had to be there to hear it. Wooooh!!!

Type-Rated · Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:58 pm

When I took a trip on a AA 777 I found the takeoff performance to be about the same as a 737-200. It just kind of turned on the runway and gently lifted off. If I had closed my eyes, I would have thought we were still taxiing. I was actually kind of shocked at how boring it was. I know they use less than full power for takeoff so I guessed this is what they did, an economy take off.

I always thought the 707, 727 and DC-8 had great takeoff performance. When they spooled up for takeoff you just knew you were going somewhere!

flyf15 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:02 pm

As far as airliners go, the most powerful and quickest climbing takeoff I've ever experienced was on a Delta MD-90. That thing is a rocket with wings....

aerobalance · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:07 pm

The most powerful takeoff that I FELT was this past Monday, 9/29, when I departed TOL on a Fairchild Dornier 328JET operated by ACA (I believe), to CVG. That thing pinned me back in my seat and shook like I was being attacked by a rabid mad dog, needless to say I was smiling from ear to ear!!

HlywdCatft · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:11 pm

The A340 anyone? anyone? anyone?

futureualpilot · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:14 pm

Definitley the 772 SAN-LGW.....man those things were howlin! Also, HP's 752 from SAN-PHX, sittin 13A.....niiiice sound....of cvourse any 752 ride is a blast!

flyingbronco05 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:18 pm

I've seen ATA 757's use LESS runway than ATA 738's and Southwest 737's

It looks like the 757's are going to stall as they are climbing, but it is a beautiful site.

So a 757 taking off out of Midway or even SNA is pretty impressive.

B2707SST · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:21 pm

My most powerful takeoff was a United 747-400 on a hop from Seattle to Denver. It felt like we were climbing at 45 degrees, surely an illusion but impressive nonetheless. My 757 takeoffs have not been much sportier than the typical 737NG, 767, A320, 777, etc.

I want to get on a 328JET one of these days, but unfortunately, they only fly on the other side of the country. The climb rate on that little plane is obscene - 31,000 feet in 14 minutes! How was the cabin comfort? I've heard it's more spacious (per seat) than the CRJ and ERJ series.

--B2707SST

fly727 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:22 pm

I just flew once in a Cubana Il-62M out of CUN (sea level) with a regular load of pax, and man... that thing is freaking powerful. I was looking out on the window before take off and it literally threw me to the back of my seat !!!!

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Photo © SilverWingPix

It never meant to be beautiful, just powerful...

RM Smile

aerobalance · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:46 pm

The 328JET had an incredible climb rate, we were up to cruise alt. (FL270) in no time flat.

The 328JET was much more comfortable than any CRJ that I've been on. I believe the fuselage diameter is larger for the 328, thus a tall person against the window doesn't need to arc with the fuselage to fit in his/her seat. The seating layout of 1-2 was unique to me, I sat in 9C, nice comfy leather chairs with plenty of legroom.

One negative - engine start-up is incredibly noisy, overhead bins buzz and rattle, heck my fillings were buzzing and rattling. Seams like a bad case of harmonics that couldn't be engineered out of it. There is a definite lack of noise during idle and cruise with no bad harmonics during heavy power applications. You've got to give to get sometimes.

[Edited 2003-10-03 06:48:55]

HlywdCatft · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:49 pm

I was on a Delta 764 flying MCO-ATL and it sure seemed to shoot up quick

Airbus Lover · Fri Oct 03, 2003 1:56 pm

MD11s are impressive!!! Wow!

It's crazy. A half loaded MD11 from PEN to SIN used less runway length than a MH B734 to KUL. Nuts

They certainly rule!!! Love

challengerdan · Fri Oct 03, 2003 2:15 pm

Two very good powerful take-offs that i experienced were on a AirTransat L1011-500 out of Ponta Delgada, Azores, and a United 757 out of Santa Ana.

KLM-MD11 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 2:16 pm

a 737 800 out of Skiathos, Greece, full of pax, but light on fuel...

It´s a 5000 ft. runway... so you can image!

skiordie · Fri Oct 03, 2003 2:51 pm

The most impressive takeoff I remembered was a AA 757 departing for Vail.

Line up on the runway,
turned off the a/c,
full power,
release brakes....Zoom..

almost as impressive was the arrival in LGA, wet runway, smooth landing, strong engine braking and a gentle roll to the gate.

It was a great trip thanks a lot!!

Also AA, 727 from Chicago to Lga. Lightly loaded, fast taxi, immediate departure. It felt like we were going straight up.

Thanks again

ROP · Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:08 pm

I must say it's the 777 having the most powerful take off. I felt of being pusing back to the seat when the Thai 773 i flied with start rolling and then so smooth lift up...I think the MD-11 must be also poweful but never try yet.

Guest · Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:17 pm

The amount of "enthusiasm" that an aircraft has on takeoff and climb is basically a function of the aircraft's thrust to weight ratio. On our Gulfstreams the takeoff thrust to weight ratio can be as high as .65 to 1 at light weights and .43 to 1 at max weights. While this isn't the 1+ to 1 that many military fighter aircraft have (and more than most airliners), it still makes for some astounding takeoffs and initial rates of climb.

We need the power to allow us to "direct climb" to FL410+ and above where we spend most of our cruise time. It makes for some very interesting rides. We warn our first-time passengers about the acceleration and deck angle. However, the vast majority of our passengers find the experience exhilarating and very enjoyable. As far as performance goes, it's not uncommon to see initial rates of climb from 3000 to 6000+ fpm depending upon our takeoff weight and 1500 to 2000 fpm out of FL390.

There's no doubt that some of the large jet transports have a lot of performance, but if you want a real "E-Ticket" ride you've got to try a bizjet.

Jetguy

ra-85154 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 4:25 pm

Easy one

I was on the Oshkosh Air Venture in August 1998, where a British Airways Concorde was displayed, and its take-off was something I had never witnessed before and never will forget..... Smile

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Photo © Patrick Weeden

Martijn

scbriml · Fri Oct 03, 2003 6:03 pm

Two recent takeoffs of mine would certainly qualify for the powerful category, but certainly not loud.

BA 744 leaving DOH for BAH nearly empty. We used hardly any runway and our initial rate of climb was phenomenal - the engines were being throttled back before we'd even passed the terminal! I was on the upper deck, so a very quiet take-off for me personally.

EK 332 leaving DBX for DOH again nearly empty. A very short takeoff run and amazing climb rate. This flight also qualified as absolutely the quietest flight I've ever been on - I love those A330s.

Out of interest, both these planes had those jolly spiffing Rolls Royce engines hanging from the wings. I love looking out the window and seeing that RR on the engine. Smile

eg777er · Fri Oct 03, 2003 7:55 pm

Concorde, of course.

Again Rolls-Royce engines!

(And a go-around in an EK A330 arriving at BAH was pretty powerful as well....!)

Jofa · Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:08 pm

The most powerful takeoff i have witnessed is this KLM 744 techflight departing MMX:

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Photo © Alexander Jonsson

The runway at MMX is 2800 meters, and that 747 rotated somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of that length, kinda like an Avro.

Shamrock_747 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:43 pm

The most powerful takeoff I have ever experienced was on board British Airways flight BA001 departing from Heathrow for JFK. The aircraft was G-BOAC. 4 Rolls Royce Olympus 593s at full thrust with afterburners can't be beaten! The noise in the rear cabin is fantastic. Smile

Declan

OO-AOG · Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:44 pm

Learjet 31, no other passenger aircraft can match it.

RickB · Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:48 pm

Got to be Concorde !!

After a flight on G-BOAD - everything else I have been on has been rather tame including 757's !!

RickB

L-188 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:50 pm

Wrong, Wrong and Wrong.

Nothing compares to a L-188 on Takeoff.

You have the prop wash accounting for 70% of the lift of the wing.

Just makes it get off the ground like a rocket, very handy for takeoffs over the mountain at Adak.

foxecho · Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:57 pm

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the 747 SP

as for the MD-11 I flew on an Empty FedEx one ferrying back from EWR to MEM a few years ago, we blasted on up to 28000 feet in about 7 minutes!

Andrew

jblake1 · Fri Oct 03, 2003 9:28 pm

Believe it or not it was on WN 737. Wind storm in Chicago and I was headed to Detroit. The captain warned us that it would be a loud take off and it was. It must have been close to full power because we rocketed up into the air!

Arrow · Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:25 pm

"Nothing compares to a L-188 on Takeoff."

I agree. No jet I've ever flown on can match that. Once got on a short-hop Electra flight with hardly any pax, and it almost went straight up.

Apparently the Dash8 Q400 comes pretty close to that performance, too, probably for the same reasons. Props are way more efficient on that take-off roll -- jets pick it up a little later.

Accidentally · Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:49 pm

757, RB211, flaps 5, max power, brakes held initially to insure symmetrical thrust, 75% load, LGA-DFW, 6am. Rocketship is the name.

tjwgrr · Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:52 pm

Believe it or not, a NWA A-320 out of GRR (Grand Rapids, MI.) We were just starting to get hit by the front edge of a big winter storm/ blizzard that eventually shut down much of the Midwest for a few days several years ago in January. Winds were gusting to 40kts or so right down the runway and we used all of I'd guess 2500'-3000' of a 10000' runway. Seems like we were at about 2500' ft high by midfield! I'll never forget it.

Airdolomiti · Fri Oct 03, 2003 11:53 pm

Got to be Concorde !!

After a flight on G-BOAD - everything else I have been on has been rather tame including 757's !!
-------------------------

I second that Big grin

Federico

Corsair2 · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:04 am

Thrust to weight ratio is the highest on the 757 and GV. These climb like no tomorrow. I love the 727 takeoff with those thunderous JT8D engines even though its T/W is one of the lowest.

UAL747 · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:06 am

If you really want to find out what the most powerful takeoff is, you need to find out the power to weight ratio. I would do it for you, but I gotta head to class.

UAL747

Sabena332 · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:08 am

My most powerful take of was on FRA's runway 18, I flew on SW to LHR and only a few passengers were on board of the 744.

Patrick

bhxforever · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:08 am

I don't remember Concorde being that powerful on takeoff, also I was near the front so it was fairly quiet, but maybe I was just too absorbed in videoing the whole thing! As we were taxying to the runway the captain announced "you are now about to experience the most exciting thing in civil aviation, a Concorde takeoff"

Also, taking off in an A330 out of BHX was pretty impressive, as the runway in birmingham isnt really suitible for large aircraft!, watching the runway dissapear fast on the nose camera was somewhat unnerving!

[Edited 2003-10-03 17:10:33]

Marcus · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:10 am

BA 744 out of SAN, back when the flight made a stop at PHX and continued to LGW.............the SAN-PHX flights were allways low on passengers and fuel for the size of a 744.....out of PHX it was "full to the rim"

Nothing like a take off on a lightly loaded and fueled 744 that has to climb fast due to noise restrictions over residential areas.

b752fanatic · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:32 am

The 757 has one of the best t/o performance in its class.

the 752 could takeoff in a 1700-1800 M runway.

Its by far one of the best.

The 737 NG has one of the best also, the thing is that the 737 NG has the trhust Derate, the limitation on the engines, for example on a 28C day at MIA, Full capacity the 737 NG could give you 95.7% of thrust for T/O, and that would make your departure smooth, saving engine life, and fuel.

If the pilot decides to use full power for departure in the 737 NG, I think that it will be more or less the same thing as a t/o on a 752.

aa61hvy · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:45 am

The 777 is something else, with 645,000lbs we used 7,000 feet on a July afternoon in DFW, but the 757 takes the cake, the power to weight ratio is awesome on that plane.

UAL747 · Sat Oct 04, 2003 12:52 am

Actually, AA's MD-11's were more powerful than their 777's, if you look at power to weight. MD-11's (I think) are generally more powerful than most 772ER's.

UAL747

ybacpa · Sat Oct 04, 2003 1:09 am

Personally, it was a Virgin 742 @ Heathrow- closest thing to a rocket I've ever been on.

I've also found 757s & 777s feel very athletic during takeoff, especially from a shorter runway.

airbus340313x · Sat Oct 04, 2003 1:13 am

How about those Air Canada DC8's freigthers that were remotorised with CFM56 engines, they were quite powerful on takeoff!

IndianFlyboy · Sat Oct 04, 2003 1:55 am

Would a MiG 21-BIS with full afterburner's count ???

kaitakfan · Sat Oct 04, 2003 2:58 am

The most impressive take offs I remember are the following

ORD-HKG on UA 895 and LAX-SYD on UA 815. I have done these flights many times, but the takeoff rolls are very impressive.

CHC-AKL on NZ 91 a Boeing 747-400. We held on the runway for a brief moment, take off power was applied with brakes still on for a moment. when breaks were released, I was lauched back into my seat! Very memorable take off for sure!

ConcordeBoy · Sat Oct 04, 2003 3:22 am

1) SSC departing JFK (RR)
2) 772ER departing ATL (GE)
3) 752 departing CLE (RR)

Aaron747 · Sat Oct 04, 2003 3:38 am

If you want to feel the ultimate in takeoff power, sit behind the wing on a fully loaded 744.

DeltaGuy · Sat Oct 04, 2003 3:50 am

Best takeoff's...

1- MD-88, almost empty....PRM says rotation 10-15 degrees...yeah right, I feel so much more, that thing CLIMBS...it's like being on the front of a spear. (I should know, have flown on this jet 50+ times in the past year)

2- B-767-300 (with the ER GE engines, but equipped for Domestic ops) I was on an 0600 flight out of JAX, plane had maybe 20 people on. Takeoff was super fast, rotation was aggressive, flaps were in quick, and we were at cruise in no time. Talked to the F/O afterwards, told me that was 1 of 4 non-ER 767's with the GE engines, which gives it so much power. Said takeoff climb was around 6,000-7,000 FPM, they had to get the flaps in quick so they wouldn't overspeed. Said it was a DERATED takeoff too! (Imagine how much fun could be had). Climb was 4,500 FPM....incredible rocketship.

Fly em fast,
DeltaGuy

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